Hexagram 20, Guān (Contemplation): Line 2

观卦六二 · 风地观 · 中文版

六二:闚观,利女贞。

The line (Legge)

The second SIX, divided, shows one peeping out from a door. It would be advantageous if it were (merely) the firm correctness of a female.

Small Image commentary

'The firm correctness of a woman, in peeping out from a door' is also a thing to be ashamed of (in a superior man).

象曰:闚观女贞,亦可丑也。

In plain words

Peeping through the crack of the door: favourable for a woman's steadfastness. The second line is yin and inward and can only peep out through the crack of the door, seeing little; in ancient times that suited a woman kept within the house, but not a noble person. The Small Image says such peeping is also shameful.

Applying it to your situation

If you are seeing a problem from one narrow angle, this line suggests stepping out to see it more fully. Have you drawn conclusions from partial information?

Position

A broken (yin) line in the second place, which is a yin (even) place, so it is in its proper place. It holds the centre of the lower trigram. Its partner is line 5; one is yin and the other yang, so they respond to each other.

If this line moves

With this line moving alone, Guān changes into Hexagram 59 Huàn (Dispersion). The Jiaoshi Yilin verse for this change (Chinese): 焦氏易林·观之涣.

The hexagram

Hexagram 20 Guān (Contemplation). The Judgment: Guan shows (how he whom it represents should be like) the worshipper who has washed his hands, but not (yet) presented his offerings - with sincerity and an appearance of dignity (commanding reverent regard).

Previous: Line 1 · Next: Line 3

English text: James Legge, The Yi King (Sacred Books of the East, vol. 16, 1882), public domain, as transcribed by the Chinese Text Project. Chinese: the received text. Offered for study and reflection, not as prediction. Plain-English readings and position notes by this site.

Cast a hexagram · All 64 hexagrams · Worked examples